. >> very nice. >> all right. aside from that, we'll take a look at upbeat economic news outofchina. thepurchasing managers index rising to 50.9 in december. highest level since august. the surge also helped speculation the chinese government will take additional steps to support its economy. of the 15 times china's up 3%, since '09, s&p that day is up 13 times. almost every time. despite the futures today, is it a good omen for the markets here? >> look, there was a dichotomy in that government. there were people who were concerned about inflation. and there were people who said, listen, we're not growing fast enough. they do have a lot of levers. if they want to grow, i still -- i've been a bull on china. if they want to do 9%, 10%, they have the ability to do it. all they have to do is have a gigantic sewer infrastructure program. >> that's true. there's going to be an economic war conference held soon. it's believed the government will start to release growth forecast at that conference and perhaps unveil some further stimulus measures or tip their hat in terms of whether they

with modest gains. europe holding onto gainsandchinaupnearly 3% over night as shanghai catches a break. our road map begins with a $20 billion deal. freeport mcmoran getting into the energy business making two acquisitions. plains exploration and mcmoran exploration. >>> concerns over the u.s. economy as adp misses estimates. the blame goes to superstorm sandy. goldman says the party is officially over for gold. >> starbucks at an investors conference will add 1,500 stores in the u.s. over the next five years. wait until you hear what they said about china. >> a big day in media. pandora ceo joins us live later this morning as the stock fell nearly 20% on weak guidance and netflix signs a big exclusive with disney. how much are they having to pay up for that? >>> let's deal with this big deal. as i've been telling you we'll see a lot of big deals -- i was wrong. here we are. freeport mcmoran buying not one but two companies. the combined price if you add it all together gets close to $20 billion. that does include debt. let's go through some of the details. it's somewhat complex. let's

. >> turmoil in italy. berlusconi throws his hat in the ring. retail sales numbers outofchina, hopingthe economy is in fact on an upswing. >> apple, enthusiasm. jeffreys trimming its price target to 800 from 900, as apple shares do trade lower in the pre-market. we'll start with mcdonald's, posting better than expected november same-store sales, global comps up 2.4. u.s. same-store sales up 2.5, offered by breakfast offerings, including that cheddar/bacon/onion sandwich, as melissa mentioned. jim? people are saying the u.s. maybe is making a turn here. >> i find mcdonald's is levered to new products, levered to menu technology. they do invent things. my hat's off to janet. they had this number last week. reminds people, again, they've been right down, and up. mcdonald's is one of those things where joe asked me from squawk when we were talking, i said, i think this is a for real term. if they continue to innovate. i may this may not be your cup of tea, burger, but innovation s higher. >> they tried to sell it to consumers as opposed to their extra value menu, which is a little bit hi

a big rallyinchinaextendingone of its biggest rallies in three years. we have a mixed bag in europe with italy up by about .2 of 1%. >> we'll do our best to keep focused on the business day. we'll be following the tragic shooting in connecticut, of course. the new york stock exchange will hold a moment of silence to honor the victims in the next few moments, and we'll be looking at the president's call for meaningful action and the politics of gun control. >> let's get to a road map for this morning. it starts with apple. under pressure once again. even dipping below $500 a share at some point this morning. shares will remain range bound near term. iphone 5 sales and cannibalization among the region. >> other concessions from the gop, the speaker proposing tax hikes for millionaires. could this be the tipping point. moving the talks beyond deadlock. >> a big week for earnings. yes, earnings. fedex, research in motion among the companies reporting. so finally maybe we'll be talking about fundamentals in the stock market more than just the cliff. we've got to talk about apple reversin

up personal computer sector? >> manufacturing data outofchina. notbad. 50.6. that's the highest in seven months. although shanghai again trades lower even europe's pmi improves a touch in november. first up, we're one month away from the fiscal cliff and so far the white house and congressional republicans are still in disagreement over how to reduce the deficit and avoid a raft of tax hikes and spending cuts. yesterday our own jim cramer and maria bartiromo were on "meet the press" and cramer had a message for fellow panelists and father of the anti-tax pledge, grover norquist. >> most ceos are republican. they're on board. they're not on board with you. they're not on board with you because they fear your view. they think you do not favor going -- you favor going over the cliff. that's what they think. they think that you favor -- >> just for the record since we're on tv. that's silly if they think that they shouldn't be ceos. >> it doesn't really matter. that's what they think. >> i want you to walk me up to that moment. >> behind the record. i like that too. >> i'm stuck. li

a million reasons, well, it's a nokia phone, well,it'schina. ipadminiis available. this is a stock that's so widely owned. it reminds me of sirius satellite. every doctor, every dentist owns apple. they don't know the price per share, they just know it is the proxy for the market. >> they just accelerated dividends. but i think we're talking now 150 companies in some fashion have accelerated or put forward a special dividend. you put forward a special market share, china is 76, with the market share at least. >> is it a disappointment that apple did not pay a special dividend? is that part of this? >> there was some of that. >> there was some expectation? not that they ever gave any voice to it. they never said a word about it. >> true. >> look, it is widely owned if the stock were -- it's obviously, here's the stock that went from 70 to 50, maybe it goes to 48, 45. everybody who doesn't know what apple is, other than the fact that they use an imac or iphone are selling it. and, look, if you're a hedge fund manager you went from thinking i have to own it, or i have to short it. . >> in

. last, but certainly not least, i think you could see the new leadership teaminchinacomemore aggressive reform program than people are expecting. >> all right. michael, good to have you. >> thank you so much. >> michael jones of riverfront. >> financials looking to continue their upward momentum from yesterday when both bank of america and citi hit new 52-week highs. independent research analyst meredith whitney has turned bullish on financials, too. whitney citing several factors including her view that banks are more than adequately capitalized. and guys, the weakest position banks from the crisis are now more than adequately capitalized, thus what they earn going forward, whatever that is, will now be theirs to employ with far greater discretion than has been the case in the past. that's the crux of her note. >> it needs to be listened to. i think we make a little bit much of meredith whitney, to be frank. it's been a controversial call on municipal bonds a couple of years ago that has not been proven correct. she might argue with that, but i think that's in the facts. you

't an accord in congress. >> we will alwayshavechina. manufacturingpmi data from last night is the best in 21 months. can we finally say the chinese economy has been stabilized. >> but of course, we start in washington. as you know, congress comes back today. the house gaveling into session now with legislative business starting at 10:00 a.m. the senate returns at 11:00 a.m. eastern. there are only a few hours left to get a deal done. eamon? >> you're already hearing people talk the way they talk on new year's day. a lot of people wish they could go back in time and do things differently. that's the way people are talking in washington about this fiscal cliff. feeling as if this thing suddenly got off the rails. take a listen to mitch mcconnell last night talking about the pace of the negotiations here and the frustration that he's experienced going through all of this over the weekend. take a listen. >> now, i'm concerned about the lack of urgency here. like we all know we're running out of time. this is far too much at stake for political gamesmanship. we need to protect the american

saw that. i do think one thing we can certainly say giventhatchinaseemsto be stabilizing a bit, we can all discuss europe. greek situation. maybe it's off the front pages for a while. and so if we assume that the jobs picture in the u.s. is not bad, let's assume not bad, it puts even more of a focus on the fiscal cliff negotiations because it becomes even more binding one would assume in terms of good or bad for the market, for the economy. >> kernen had a good point. does strength mean the economy could handle a cliff or is it so good you wouldn't want to tamper -- >> if i wanted to create a recession, what would i do? i would raise everybody's rates. i would cut the unemployment benefit. just trying to think of a theory of how i could cause a recession. i would cut back government spending quickly. >> i would raise interest rates to 20%. >> bernanke ought to join the -- look, i think this is what's going to happen. i think it's 50-50 we get a deal. no vacation. no legislation, no vacation. i think that when people get their paycheck at the end of january, they are going to be sho

aboutchinaelectricdemand being strong. remember, they make coal machinery, depending upon how much electric demand there is in china, his orders go up. that's why i think people are surprised the stock eel not down big, given his concerns throughout the near term. >> comments, the buybacks continue. >> now, i begin to say, wait a second. one buyback, maybe -- too much coincidence here. you have the news out of joint global. i think people are starting to say this fourth quarter's an inflection point for china. less worried about inflation, more worried about pro-growth. cummins is a uniquely chinese story. so many truck engines go there. let's keep track of this. >> a lot of people say if you've got gdp growing again and inflation as low as it is, that is the sweet spot, that is where you always want to be. >> india came out with global stuff. coal, i know, we're only used to seeing coal phased out in this country. they love coal in china. i don't want to make a judgment on whether that's -- but they are huge coal plant builders there. huge. >> an important one to watch. we'll talk

that well to suddenly, an inventory glut of shoeswithchina, maybenorth america can make up with it. nike remains a great growth company, a lot of cash, good dividend. i think if it gets hit, unless they can -- remember, china is coming back. so, theoretically, that's what the stock market upped the most since august 2010, it comes back, then nike represents great value. >>> when we come back this morning, a lot more on that deal of the day intercontinental exchange buying the nyse parent, nyse euro next, a live interview with the ceos of both of those companies. meantime, take one more look at futures after the worst day of the month yesterday. futures rebounding a bit. a lot more from squawk on the streets, post nine, at the nyse, when we return. st >>> herbalife is one of the stocks to watch this morning after bill ackman says he is shorting the stock, calling you the company a pyramid scheme. ackman will outline his herbalife argument at an investment presentation in new york city herbalife ceo defended his company yesterday on cnbc. >> this is about bill acman's business model. this

would be short yen and long japanese stocks. >> people watching not just januarybutchina. irir ir iron oar a lot. >> let's get more insight from steve from web bush securities. how much of a nail biter is this for you in terms of fiscal cliff and the markets? >> i think pretty clear at this point that if there's a deal coming, it's gonna be coming very, very soon. i think the markets discounted the fact we are going to get some sort of deal t has held up fairly well here and i think if we don't get a deal, we will see a selloff. i don't know how considerable, but certainly see the 2, 3% decline in the market. >> does it amaze you, steve, that the markets, in your view, still consider a given that we are going to reach a deal? here we are thursday, december 27th. they still haven't issued a 48-hur notice for congress to return to capitol hill and yet you're saying the markets have baked in some sort of deal? >> yeah, i think so. i don't in he isly think the deal happened december 31st. if we pass waite without a deal earthquake the market will think something is going to happen in

for antibiotics and steroids. some major issues for yum brands, 44% of its revenues comefromchina. gettingthe clearance at this point, very good news, and we're seeing the stock respond accordingly. bob pisani is here on the floor with more. >> good morning. merry christmas, everybody. over the weekend, is there a plan c on the fiscal cliff floating around. the only offer that's really on the table, and i hate to get so simplist simplistic, was the president's offer. he mentioned it at the press conference late friday afternoon, and that's raise taxes on the top 2%. that's basically the offer on the table. there's a lot of people trying to throw in a lot of spending cuts into a so-called plan c, raise the medicare eligibility age from 65 to 67. that's really an afterthought going in right now. the president's offer is the one on the table right now. at this point the choices are getting very, very narrow. i didn't hear do nothing. i didn't hear about a grand bargain. the other big thing over the weekend, i was getting a lot of e-mail about, is when will the treasury department declare the

is performing very well. they have geek squad. and they have a fast-growing chaininchina. sofor all its problems, i do believe that schulze believes that there is things that they can do to save the company and not only save it but make it prosperous. >> just before we let you go, do you have any appreciation as to what might be an acceptable offer? i mean, are there figures being bandied around from the other side? >> yeah. we've heard that best buy would be comfortable with $20 a share. now, whether or not they get that or not, i don't know. but i think it's interesting that the buzz is out there that the company would be open to $20 a share. you certainly would have heard that just a few months ago when this whole process started. >> thomas, congratulations on your exclusive. it's good to see you. thomas lee from "the minneapolis star-tribune." thank you. >> thank you. >>> speaker boehner coming out just moments ago saying the president needs to step up in the fiscal cliff negotiations. the democratic leadership is preparing to respond. we will bring you comments from senators harry